I Would Have Fallen Victim If I Wasn’t Experienced – Chioma Nwosu Speaks About The Magic Lightz Academy Saga

After yesterday whistle-blowin’ saga about a production outfit – Magic Lightz Film Academy – sending out messages to artistes requesting that they pay N10,000 (ten thousand Naira) before they can feature in a “Warri Boiz in Lagos” production, TNShad a chat with ChiomaNwosu, the Nollywood actress who raised the alarm on her Facebook page.

Chioma Nwosu played the role of Mrs. Brown, the Counselor/Lawyer in Ikechukwu Onyeka‘s 2012 romantic drama, Mr & Mrs.

In the chat below, she reveals how she got to know of the audition and what the content of the text message was as well as she has taken so far, as a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN).

TNS: How did you find out about the text messages that were sent?

CN: Okay. First of all, I don’t need any controversial publicity. So even though I have no problem with speaking up for what is right, I’d rather not be involved in all the drama except where necessary. Do U understand me?

TNS: Cool

CN: I was sent a text message from Magic lights academy on their phone number, 08160286731.

TNS: That means you attended the audition?

CN: On Friday, an audition was held which I attended. On Sunday, I received a message from the above number saying I had been cast for a role.

MAGIC LIGHTZ FILM ACADEMY CONGRATULATES U,U MADE THRU D “WARRI BOIZ IN LAGOS” AUDITION,PLS SEND 2 OF UR PICS WIT UR NAME & UR AGE TO THE E-MAIL AND ALSO ÒN WHATSAPP TO THE NUMBER …. magiclightzfilmacademy@gmail.com & 08160286731

TNS: Ok?

CN: Then on Tuesday morning, I received a text message from the same number, requesting a payment of N10,000 to be made by us.

MAGIC LIGHTZ FILM …HERE’S A NOTICE FOR A MEETING OF CAST’S/AND THE PRODUCTION TEAM ON THURSDAY 28 MAY 2015…SELECTED CASTS ARE TO PURCHASE D PRODUCTION FILE WHICH WILL CONTAIN ID CARD OF CASTS,FORMS AND SCRIPTS…PRODUCTION FILE COST’S N10,000 ..ONLY THOSE WHO ARE READY TO PURCHASE FILE’S ARE TO ATTEND D MEETING PLS…..VENUE @JESSE LOUNGE BY TOTAL FILLING STATION IN ABRAHAM ADESANYA AFTER AJAH ROUNDABOUT AJAH..9A.M…There’ll be a photo shoot for cast’s and a casts party next week friday(only casts with purchased files)production will begin on the 29th of june..info pls contact magiclightzfilmacademy@gmail.com or call/whatsapp 08160286731

TNS: Prior to Friday, did you have any previous contact/knowledge of Magic Lightz?

CN: Prior to Friday, Magic Lights academy sent out a broadcast asking artistes to come to audition for an upcoming production.

TNS: Did you know/had you heard about them before this “Warri Boiz In Lagos” audition? Or were you even aware of any production they had done before?

CN: No. It is impossible to know about every production house.

Chioma Nwosu (Photo: Facebook)

TNS: Yeah, sure.

CN: I have shot movies with different production outfits whom I didn’t know until we met at castings We have had many cases of outfits like this trying to take advantage of artistes who are desperate to get on screen. More experienced artistes such as myself will not fall for such gimmicks. But some of us had to speak up to help young artistes who don’t know any better.

TNS: So, apart from your Facebook post, have you taken any other action?

CN: I have contacted representatives of AGN. I will be meeting with them tomorrow.

TNS: Cool. Yesterday, we called the WhatsApp line in question and the man who picked it introduced himself as Ziki.

CN: Okay.

TNS: He claimed that the messages were sent by a disgruntled element who was part of the audition panel and was angry because he was told he would not be part of the production crew. He claimed that the WhatsApp line was hacked into.

CN: That can’t be true.

TNS: That’s what he claimed.

CN: He is trying to cover up because he sees he has been exposed. Some shady characters sometimes hold auditions just to ask girls to sleep with them and others to pay money for roles.

TNS: Did you meet this Ziki during the audition?

CN: I didn’t know the names of those at the table. 3 men and a lady. I came late that day cos I was on a set shooting in Surulere. The lady at the table with them is a popular face on screen. Uche Iwuji. U can google her up.I have no idea if she is a part of their production team or if she was just invites to add credence to their outfit.

TNS Quote

As a director, I am a disciplinarian. I have no room for posers. If you want to pose, you go somewhere else. I am not interested in the star, I am interested in the artist. I am interested in the person who will do the job.